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Medical
Dermatology - Moles
Moles,
medically known as nevi, are
clusters of pigmented cells
that appear as small, dark
spots on the skin, and can vary
greatly in size and color.
Moles typically appear on the
face, arms, legs, and torso,
but can develop anywhere on the
body. Although most skin moles
are harmless, in rare cases
they can become precancerous,
necessitating surgical removal.
Some patients also opt to
remove benign moles for
cosmetic reasons using
surgical, laser, or natural
mole removal.
Moles are
frequently removed for a
variety of reasons. They can be
removed by 2 surgical methods:
-
Excision (cutting) with
stitches: Click here to
view step-by-step photos
of this type of mole
removal.
-
Excision with
cauterization (a tool is
used to burn away the
mole): Click here to view
step-by-step photos of
this type of mole removal.
Although
laser has been tried for moles,
it is not usually the method of
choice for most deep moles
because the laser light doesn't
penetrate deeply enough.
Typically, the dermatologist
may choose excision with or
without stitches depending on
the depth of the mole and the
type of cosmetic outcome
desired.
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